Getting back in the race

The last year has been insane. Thankfully I have amazing friends and family to keep me grounded when sometimes all I want to do is float away.

As many of you know two and a half years ago I injured my knee really bad. 90% of the cartilage was torn among tendons & ligaments. They thought I wouldn't be able to run again, but I started running a year after surgery (to the day). However, it wasn't easy, my knee kept giving out and I truthfully gave up.

I couldn't run, how could I workout? Right around the time of starting this blog I was in the throws of my frustration. I tried yoga and numerous video challenges to keep my spirits up, but nothing worked. I needed to change something and fast.

I changed my schedule around and started biking and swimming 5-7days a week. I felt happy to be working out, but never fully challenged. I love swimming, since injuring my back four years ago it's been the best thing I could do for myself.

Biking was just my last resort in working out at this point, since my knee could barely even hold me up most days. I spent four months on a routine of swimming, biking and weightlifting every day. Pushing myself to points I didn't think possible (yes I can lift 250lbs but I rather not most days).

But I never felt complete, after months of staring at the treadmill as I biked in the back row of the gym I figured I'll give it a try. If my knee says no then I'll just walk. Well, I'm three weeks in and the only thing that hurts are my shins.

I don't run much, my maximum time so far is 2.5minutes, in a consecutive run. I listen to my knee, if it's weak I don't run, if it's strong I push it until I get an inkling that it's weak. Listening is the best choice for me at this point, but when I took the first 30 second run with out any pain, I had the biggest smile on my face. I felt back in my game, even if I'm still in last place.

I'm not pushing myself to run a 5K any time soon, but sometime in my future maybe I will be able too, without stopping to walk.

With this new accomplishment I feel more confident in my workouts, I do a regular fitness test on the bike at least once a week and I'm pushing myself harder in my swimming. I used to hate sweating, now I love the feeling of it dripping down my neck as I stumble my way out of the gym.

I never give up, even when all the odds are against me.